Spirit Of Love

ONE CAN NOT love without giving. The spirit of love is predominant in all my memories of Christmas. However, in my 65-year memory book, there are two Christmas days etched more deeply.

I was the baby of nine children. We were orphaned when I was 6 years old. When school opened that year, (it was to be my first), I had to stay home. I had no shoes. Those who already were students and/or working came first.

Christmas was coming soon. I had been told we would not have a tree or presents.

Sometime before the holiday we welcomed a visitor from the church. There was serious talk about money and food. When the lady asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I said, ''Shoes and a doll.''

Christmas morning the church lady visited with presents for everyone. She sat on the floor with me while I opened two boxes. The larger one contained a doll, which I hugged tightly and refused to put down. I helped with one hand as the woman opened the second box. The beautiful shoes were black patent leather, high-buttoned, with red leather cuffs.

The lady returned my hug with a long embrace. When she touched my cheek with hers, she left wetness. Her expression was one I couldn't understand -- not then.

I outgrew the shoes before they were worn out and kept them new-looking through the years, along with the doll, which was my constant companion and confidant.

Twenty years later the story repeated itself in another city as I visited a 5-year-old orphaned girl on Christmas morning. I helped her unwrap the doll and shoes. I returned the child's hug of love and joy with a long embrace. I left wetness on her cheeks when they touched mine. She looked at me with a puzzled expression. I understood.